British FM optimistic for breakthrough in resolution of Cyprus issue

British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond expressed optimism on Thursday that a breakthrough in resolving the Cyprus issue may come soon.

"I have made several visits to Cyprus over the last few months, meeting members of both communities, and I am optimistic that we may be on the brink of a breakthrough in resolving this dispute," he told media in Athens after a meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias.

Hammond reiterated Britain's support for the achievement of a viable solution, stressing that London "will do whatever possible for this to happen."

Under international agreements Britain and Greece are two of the guarantor powers in the Mediterranean Sea island that has been ethnically divided since 1974 when Turkey controlled the northern part of Cyprus. Repeated rounds of negotiations since then have failed to produce an agreement to reunify the island.

"We hope for a solution to be found in Cyprus that will contribute to the wider stabilization of the region," Kotzias added during the joint press conference.

Apart from the Cyprus issue, the two officials discussed Britain's future in the EU, London's request for reforms in the European Union, the terrorism threat, the Syrian conflict and the refugee crisis.

As far as Britain's presence in the European Union goes, Kotzias stressed that for Greece "it is very important and lends special weight to the European Union as a whole." He appeared confident that in the end an agreement that benefits both Britain and the EU will be reached.

"I hope that we will be able to come to a good solution, which introduces measures of reform that will make the European Union more effective and allow the British people to vote in a referendum to decisively make Britain's future inside a reformed European Union," Hammond said.

"I believe that Britain is good for Europe, and Europe, if we can get the right reforms, is good for Britain," he stressed. Endit